Magnetic fastener



Allg 24, 1965 c. s. ARMISTEAD MAGNETIC FASTENER Filed Feb. 14, 1963 PIVL LMMIIF nl INVENTOR. mznss/ Hrmzeac BY m ` sheet materials.

United States Patent O nannesz MAGNETIC FSTENER Charles S. Armistead, Box 724, Morgantown, W. Va. Filed Feb. 1li, 1963, Ser. No. 253,481 13 Claims. (El. 24-24i8) This invention relates generally to fasteners of the type utilized for holding cloth fabric, sheet material, and the like, and more particularly to an improved fastener employing of a novel arrangement of magnetic materials to provide clamping force.

The need very often arises for hanging, or holding in place, pieces of cloth fabric and other like flexible For example, in dressmaking and tailoring establishments it is often desirable to temporarily anchor a piece of cloth, either to another piece of cloth or in position on a worktable; similar instances commonly occurring in various industrial applications. Further, such fasteners are commonly utilized in the home to hang towels and the like, and for other similar uses. Numerous fasteners and holding devices have been heretofore designed for these purposes, including many that are objectionable because they are expensive and relatively complicated in structure.

The advantages of the present fastener are that it is relatively simple and economical in construction, and can be easily manipulated to insert and remove material. Further, it provides suiicient clamping force to hold the material for the desired purpose, and is constructed so as to not damage the material being held.

Moreover, the fastener of the present invention eliminates mechanical catches, snaps or other locking devices, and instead utilizes magnetic forces for providing a uniform clamping action. rl`he only moving elements thereof are two hinged plates having a novel magnetic assembly associated therewith; hence, there are no complicated, `diiiicult-to-manufacture elements involved. The magnetic assembly portions associated with the two plates cooperate to secure a piece of flexible material between said plates against a substantial pulling force, said plates being so constructed as not to cause damage to said material. Moreover, the fastener of the invention may be easily manipulated with one hand, and thus is especially useful in industrial and like applications where ease of operation and elimination of lost motion are desirable. n It is an object of this invention to provide a fastener for holding and/or hanging iiexible materials, so constructcd as to firmly hold said materials without causing `damage thereto.

Another object is to provide a fastener employing a magnetic assembly to produce an effective clamping force over a relatively large area from a relatively small amount of magnetized material.

Yet another object is to provide a magnetic fastener employing securing pins therein, and so constructed as to positively hold a piece of material.

' Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a plan view of oneform of fastener in its closed position, with a piece of cloth held therein;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the fastener of FIG. 1, showing in particular the manner in which the cloth is held by the fastener;

' FIG. 3 is a view in front elevation of the fastener of FIG. `1, showing in particular the manner in which the serrated edges of the magnetic assembly grasp the fabric;

FIG. 4 is a perspective View of the fastener of FIG. 1 in its open position; and

3,2%,342 Patented Ang. 2d, E965 FIG. 5 is a perspective View, similar to FIG. 4, of a modified form of the invention including impaling pins.

The fastener of the invention may be utilized as a movable device for clamping fabric material, or it may be secured to a worktable, wall, or other structure of inplace use. in every instance, the fastener will function in an identical manner to secure cloth, plastic or other like material. Also, in all cases, it may be readily engaged and disengaged with one hand.

Referring now to the drawings, the fastener assembly is indicated generally at 2 in FIG. l, a piece of cloth material d being shown clamped therein. The fastener 2 includes a rectangular upper plate 6 and a rectangular lower plate S, both made of nonmagnetic metal. The upper plate 6 has a rectangular notch l0 medially along its rear edge. The portions of said plate on both sides of the notch 10 are bent into a tubular configuration to form a pair of aligned cylindrical collars l2. The lower plate S has a rectangular tongue projecting from the rear edge thereof which is bent into a tubular configuration to form a cylindrical collar f4, said collar being receivable within the space between the collars l2 and having a conguration identical to that of said collars 12. A hinge pin 16 is received within the aligned openings of the collars l2 and l., and thus functions to hinge together the plates 6 and 3. The ends of the hinge pin 16 have heads 18 thereon for the purpose of securing said pin in position, the distance between said heads being slightly greater than the length of said plates 6 and il to provide a space at one end of said plates for the reception of a torsion spring Ztl.

The spring 2h is relatively weak, and includes a pair of arms 22 and 24. rthe end of the arm 22 has a projection Z3 thereon which is anchored in a hole 23a, formed in the end of the lower plate S, and theV other arm 2e is similarly anchored to the upper plate 6 by a projection 25 anchored within a hole 25a formed in plate 6. The purpose of the relatively weak spring 2Q is to hold the two plates 6 and 8 in their open position, in which position the plates generally are at right angles to each other, as shown in FIG. 4. In certain applications it may he desirable to eliminate the spring 2t), in which case there is no mechanical element prese-nt to hold the plates in said open position.A

The two plates 6 and S have identical lengths and widths, so that their peripheral edges coincide. The forward edges of said plates are disposed parallel to the axis of the hinge pin le, and are spaced a substantial distance therefrom. T-he upper face of the lower plate 8 has fastened thereon adjacent and parallel .to the front edge thereof a pair of normally projecting, spaced, parallel bars 26 and 28 .of magnetic material, such as iron. Disposed between said bars at the opposite ends thereof is a permanent magnet 3G, the poles of said magnets being so positioned that similar magnetic lines of iiux will flow through the two bars 26 and 28 at either end thereof. The height of each magnet 3@ is substantially less than the. height of the bars 26 and Z8, a height equal to half that `of said bars being typical. As is best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the central portions of the two bars 26 and 22, inwardly of the magnets Sil, curve downwardly in a generally arcuate manner, and have serrations 32 and `341., respectively, formed thereon.

The lower face of the upper plate 6 has a wedge bar 36 secured thereto, said wedge bar projecting downayardly normally from said plate and being disposed so las to be received within the trough define-d by the bars 26 and 2?. The length of the wedge bar 36 is slightly less than the distance between the magnets Sil, and the lower edge thereof is curved arcuately downwardly and has serrations 33 thereon. The wedge bar 36 is con- Vstrtucted of a magnetic material such as is utilized for the bars 26 and 28. VSecured -to the lower face of said upper plate at each end lof said wedge bar 36 is a rectangular pieve of magnetic Amaterial 4t?, each of said pieces having s a width correspondingto the distance between the Vouter sides of the bars 26 and 28, .andatlength correspond-ing "to that of the magnets 30. The edges of lsaid pieces 4i?, which confront the ends of the wedge bar 36, layrenotched, "as at 41, medially thereof for receiving said endsas is best showninFIG. 4. t

The height of the bars 26 and 28, and the thickness of the pieces 46, areso related tothe diameter of'thecollars 1:2 and 14, that when saidpieces are resting uponthe upper edges Iof said bars, ,the plates 6 and are disposed generally parallel, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The wedge lbar 36 has a height suicientlyY great so that, when the pieces 4i) are resting Vupon said upper edges of the'bars 26 and 23, the downwardly curved serrated edge 38 thereof will extend .below-the serrated edges 32 and 34 of the bars 26 and 2S, as is indicated by broken lines in FIG. Y3;, the Width, or thickness, of the Wedge bar 36isV substantially less than the, distance between thejparallel lbarsV t .Spring connectedby a hinge pin 52, TheV plates 44 and 46 are Aidentical in constructionto the plates 6 and 8,'except that they are madejof magnetic material. Y A spring 54 is provided tomaintain-said plates in an open position, said being mounted in a manner identical to the spring Ztl. l The lower plate 46 has secured thereto a pair of spaced, parallel bars 56 and 58, said bars projecting normally from said plate adjacent the forward edge thereof and having a lengthsub'stantially less than the length ofy said plate.

VThe upper edgesxof said bars arecurved arcuately down- VWardly, and' have serrations .60 and 62, respectively, thereon. A pair of magnets v64 is secured to' the plate 46, one at each end of the bars 56 and v5S. The magnets'64 are y arranged on the plate 46, one with the N-pole vat the top awayfrom the plate and the other with theV .'N-pole at the` bottom Yand against the plate, as indicated. The width of 1 'eachmagnet is substantially identical to the distance be- Y,tween the 'outer sides of the bars; 56 and 53,-and the 26-28 so. that a space exists Vfor fabric .betweenthe sides 'of said wedge, bar. andthe' walls of theftrough defined by the bars V26 and '2% (FIG. 2).

The plates 6.and 8 are constructed of a nonmagnetic material, such as brass or a suitable plastic. The magnets 36 are disposed so thattheN-.pole thereof is adjacentV the bar k26'ar1d Athe S-pole thereof is adjacent the bar 28, as indicated inFIG. 2. In operation, a piece of ilexiblev `sheet material, such as the clothv4, is laid'upon the bars 26 andV 23. Theupperplate 6 isthen swung toward the 'lower plate 8, the wedge bar 36 engaging the material 4 and carrying it into the trough @bet-Ween the bars 26 vand 2S as said plates approach their parallel, closed position (FIG. 2). As the twoplates approach their closed poheight thereof is identical to the height of said bars at the T he ,upper plate 44fhas secured thereto, to `project normally'therefrom, a Wedge bar 6K6, which is identical in construction to the bar k36,-exc'ept thatA it is made of a non- ,mag'netic material. The bar 66 is v'positioned to enter the trough between the bars 56 and VA58 ina' manner'similar to that illustrated for the bar 36 in FIG. 2. Spac'edv from the ends of thev bar 66rand in alignment therewith is a pair of sharply pointed, slender steel pins 68, said pins being secured to the plate 44 to project normally therefrom.

`The magnets 64 are provided withvertical bores "itl lcentrally thereof, said bores'being of a size to readily receive material of the wedge bar 3:6i and the pieces 40, and will tightly holdrthe latter elements in their closed position adjacent to said bars 26 and 28. -The serrated edges` on the Vthree i'nterengagedr,,bar-sy 276, 28` and 36 function tol further insure that the material 4, ,wh-ichds alreadyZV wedged in position bythe wedgebar 36 asshowrrinV FIG. 2, wi1lbesecurelyl1eld.

When it is .desired to release the' v11i-arenalV 4, farce Y suiciently strongV lto separate ,the two halves of the magnetic assembly ismanu-ally applied to the upperplate 6, assuming the ,lower plate Sis `fastened toV a support,.- Once theplates have been moved apart tothe point where the wedge .bar 36 is elevated a substantial distance above thepins 68 when the plates 44 and 46 are in their closed,

I fparallel'position.` Additional holding force'will be produced if the pins ,68 are made 'of magnetic material.

In operation, the fastener 4Z of FIG. Sifunctions in a manner similar rto the fastener 2 of FIGS. 1-4. `A piece of flexible material is placedv upon the bars 56 and 58, and the upperplate 44 is then swung toward the lower plate. 46. As thetwo plates approach their closed position', the, magnets 64 exert a magneticr force upon the plates `4 4 and-46suicient to holdsaid platesin a closed position. Thus, a closed pathfor magnetic linesof force` @will be producedy through fonev magnet 64, lplate 46, the

other magnet 64and the other .,plate'44. They pins 68 will pierce the material overlying the magnets 64 as the `fastenercloses, and will then enter the bores;70. AIt ,is

thus seen that the material will be held within V the fastener both by the wedge bar 66 and by thev pinsy 68, so that movement thereof away from'thefastenerv is positively the parallel bars 26 and 23, the effect` ofthe magnetic` holding torce is lessened to ythef-point where the rela? tively weak spring'Ztl thereafterfunctionsjto maintaing" said plates Vin their open position `until'they iareragain closed to clampapiece of material.

It will be readily seen :from the Vforegoing thatl'efa fastener has been provided which will vnot damage fabric held thereby;V which .incorporatesno moving meellanicalv graspingv elements;y and which is easy to construct and manipulate. v

If'it is desi-red to use the fasteners sin :a 'xedposition, one of1 the two plates 6 or 3 is lmerely secured by suitable 5,7can-be' employed. i Referring to FIG. 5, afastener respectively having interleaved collars 48 and 5t) thereon n 42 Ais shown which coml'f prises anupper plate 44 and a lower` plate 416,'.said-plates' prevented; The pins 6,8, becausethey'are Vvery slender,

willfnormally not create objectionable holes inthe material being clamped.r` ,y The magnets 64, as was'stated hereinabove, areot a height identical tothatofthe endsv of the bars 56 and 58, and no magnetic pieces similar to the'pieces 40 are'shown 'toabe employed onthe upper magnetic plate 44.y Itis to v be understood, however, that this `construction, could be altered, and that magnetic pieces vsimilar to the piecesV 40 `in FIGS. `14` might'` be employedtin the fastener 42 if desired, finfjwhich iristancetheV pinsV 68 would project from the surface"V of such pieces'fof magnetic material. If magnetic pieces 40are used, then the plates 44 and`46can be nonmagnetiqfand the magnetic` tlow ywill be similar to that in FIGS. 1*.tor4. y t Y It is thusfseen that a fastener has been provided which 'l y'readil It'ullls the ob'ectives hereinabove set forth for the In cases where a positive locking effect 1s desired to holdl f y l slick materials, such as silk and some plastics,a Vsecond embodimentr of the invention, ,suchv as ishshown inventiom'an'd which-canV be readily and economically .manufactured.;y Further, it-.is obvious that the fastener can Vbefnrade-in various sizes, and that the arrangement of vthe magnets ancltther bars of vmagnetic material can be variedasvde'siredto meet design requirements. l v Obviously, many modificationsandvariations of the present invention are possiblein the lightv of the above teachings. It is to be understood, therefore, that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be constructed and designed otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A fastener for holding flexible sheet material, comprising: a pair of plates having aligned, apertured collars at one edge thereof and hinged together along said one edge by a pin extending through said apertures, said plates being arranged for movement between a confronting position and a position where in one of said plates is disposed at an angle to the other; a first means upon the confronting face of one of said plates for creating a magnetic field, said means including a pair of spaced, parallel bars of magnetic material secured to project normally from said plate and magnet means disposed between said spaced bars; and a second magnetic means on the confronting face of the other of said plates responsive to and positioned to confront said first means, said second means including a wedge bar of magnetic material secured to project normally from the confronting face of said other plate, said wedge bar being arranged to enter a space between said spaced bars when said plates are in their confronting position, both of said means cooperating when said plates are in said confronting position to secure said plates in said confronting position.

2. A fastener as recited in claim 1, wherein the confronting edges of said spaced bars and said wedge bar are serrated, and wherein said wedge bar has a width substantially less than the space between said pair of spaced bars.

3. A fastener for holding flexible sheet material, comprising: a pair of plates hinged together along one edge thereof, said plates being arranged for movement between a confronting position and a position wherein one of said plates is disposed at an angle to the other thereof; a pair of spaced, parallel bars of magnetic material secured to the confronting face of one of said plates and arranged to project normally therefrom; a pair of spaced magnets secured to said confronting face between said bars; and a wedge bar secured to the confronting face of the other plate and arranged to project normally therefrom, said wedge bar being constructed of magnetic material and being arranged to enter the space between said spaced bars when said plates are in said confronting position.

4. A fastener as recited in claim 3, including a piece of magnetic material secured to said other confronting face at either end of said wedge bar and arranged to seat upon said spaced bars when said plates are in their confronting position.

5. A fastener as recited in claim 3, wherein said wedge bar has a length corresponding substantially to the space between said magnets, and wherein the confronting edges of said wedge bar and said pair of spaced bars are serrated.

6. A fastener for holding flexible sheet material, cornprising: a pair of plates hinged together along one edge thereof, said plates being arranged for movement between a confronting position and a position wherein one of said plates is disposed at an angle to the other; a pair of spaced, parallel bars secured to the confronting face of one of said plates and projecting normally therefrom, the other plate having magnetic means associated therewith; a wedge bar secured to the confronting face of the other plate and projecting normally therefrom, saidfwedge bar being arranged to enter the space between said spaced bars when said plates are in confronting position and to f cooperate therewith to grip flexible sheet material therebetween; and a magnet secured to said one confronting face adjacent each end of said parallel bars for attracting said magnetic means to hold said plates in said confronting position.

7. A fastener as recited in claim 6, wherein the plates are made of magnetic material, and wherein the N-pole of one magnet and the S-pole of the other magnet are disposed against said one confronting face.

8. A fastener as recited in claim 6, wherein each of said magnets has a bore therein, and wherein a pair of pins is secured to the confronting face of said other plate to project normally therefrom, said pins being positioned to enter said bores when said plates are in said confronting position.

9. A fastener for holding flexible sheet material, comprising: a pair of plates made of magnetic material hinged together along one edge thereof, said plates being pivotally connected for movement between a confronting position wherein they are substantially parallel and a position wherein one of said plates is disposed at an angle to the other; a pair of spaced, parallel bars of nonmagnetic material secured to the confronting face of one of said plates and projecting normally therefrom; a nonmagnetic wedge bar secured to the confronting face of the other plate and projecting normally therefrom, said wedge bar being arranged to enter the space between said spaced bars when said plates are in confronting position and to cooperate therewith to grip flexible sheet material therebetween; and a magnet secured to said one confronting face adjacent each end of said parallel bars for holding said plates in said confronting position, the N-pole of one magnet and the S-pole of the other magnet being disposed against said one confronting face.

10. A fastener as recited in claim 6, wherein the confronting edges of said spaced bars and said wedge bar are serrated, and wherein said wedge bar has a width substantially less than the space between said pair of spaced bars.

11. A fastener for holding flexible sheet material, comprising: a pair of plates having aligned apertured collars at one edge thereof, and hinged together along said one edge by a pin extending through said apertures, said plates being arranged for movement between a confronting position, wherein they are in spaced, generally parallel, relationship, and a position wherein one of said plates is disposed at an angle to the other; a pair of spaced, parallel bars secured to the confronting face of one of said plates and projecting normally therefrom; a magnetic wedge bar secured to the confronting face of the other plate and projecting normally therefrom, said wedge bar being arranged to enter the space between said spaced bars when said plates are in confronting position, and to cooperate therewith to grip flexible sheet material therebetween; and magnet means secured to one of said confronting faces at the opposite ends of said parallel bars for holding said plates in said confronting position.

12. A fastener for holding flexible sheet material, comprising: a pair of plates hinged together on one edge thereof, said plates being arranged for movement between a confronting position and a position wherein one of said plates is disposed at an angle to the other; a pair of spaced, parallel bars secured to the confronting face of one of said plates and projecting normally therefrom; a wedge bar secured to the confronting face of the other plate and projecting normally therefrom, said wedge bar being arranged to enter the space between said spaced bars when said plates are in confronting position and to cooperate therewith to grip flexible sheet material therebetween, said parallel bars and said wedge bar being made of magnetic material; and magnet means secured to one end of said confronting faces in the region of said parallel bars and said wedge bar for holding said plates in said confronting position, said magnet means comprising magnets secured to said one confronting face, and positioned to engage the opposite ends of said spaced, parallel bars.

i 13. A fastener for holding flexible sheet material, comprising: a pair of plates hinged together along one edge thereof, said plates being arranged for movement between a confronting position and a position wherein one of said plates is disposed at an angle to the other, said plates being made of a magnetic material; a` pair of-spacedjparallel bars secured to the confronting face ofV one of said 'plates and projecting normally therefrom; awedge barY secured to the confronting face of the other plate and projecting normally therefrom, said Wedgey bar being -arranged to enter the space between said spaced bars when said plates are in confronting position and to cooperate i `therewith t0 grip'flexible sheet material therebetween; and

YV1,173,282 2/16 Leary 229-6 2,497,266 2/50 ALavare 16e1s9 2,862,752 12/58 Heppner. 292-25r5 v2,964,275 12/670 Atkinson 243-95V v `FOREIGN P ATENTS Y v143,816 12A/355V Austria.

magnet-'means 'secured to ,one end of saidv confrontingv faces in the region of said parallel bars and said Wedge bar for holding said plates in,saidconfrontingposition, said magnet means comprising magnets secured to one of said confronting faces'and positioned to be engageable with the other confronting face. Y

f Y S Y f References Cited by the Examiner vUNITEDA STATES PATENTS Y OTHER REFERENCES German printed'application 1,088,074, September 1960.

DoNLEY J. SToCKING, Primary Examiner. 

6. A FASTENER FOR HOLDING FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL COMPRISING: A PAIR OF PLATES HINGED TOGETHER ALONE ONE EDGE THEREOF, SAID PLATES BEING ARRANGED FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A CONFRONTING POSITION AND A POSITION WHEREIN ONE OF SAID PLATES IS DISPOSED AT AN ANGLE TO THE OTHER; A PAIR OF SPACED, PARALLEL BARS SECURED TO THE CONFRONTING FACE OF ONE OF SAID PLATES AND PROJECTING NORMALLY THEREFROM, THE OTHER PLATE HAVING MAGNETIC MEANS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH; A WEDGE BAR SECURED TO THE CONFRONTING FACE OF THE OTHER PLATE AND PROJECTING NORMALLY THEREFROM, SAID WEDGE BAR BEING ARRRANGED TO ENTER THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID SPACED BARS WHEN SAID PLATES ARE IN CONFRONTING POSITION AND TO COOPERATE THEREWITH TO GRIP FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL THEREBETWEEN; AND A MAGNETIC SECURED TO SAID ONE CONFRONTING FACE ADJACENT EACH END OF SAID PARALLEL BARS FOR ATTRACTING SAID MAGNETIC MEANS TO HOLD SAID PLATES IN SAID CONFRONTING POSITION. 